Missing dogs of the Okanagan

(There is now a Stolen and Missing Dogs of the Okanagan Facebook page and the list of missing dogs has grown since this was written. Please CLICK HERE if you’d like to review them and see if any look familiar.)

Two weeks ago I wrote a column about the increased dog-napping cases in the Okanagan. Since then two puppies were stolen and later returned to their owners, and four additional dogs vanished without a trace.

I followed up that column with an online report aimed at the police and the media in hopes that they would inform the public about this under reported subject. The listing I compiled includes 44 dogs that have gone missing in the last 10 months that were abducted and retrieved or have not been found. I’ve talked to most of the owners of these pets. At least 17 of them were stolen, the rest remain a mystery.

To some, this isn’t a big deal. As the law states, dogs are merely property, and their theft isn’t considered any worse than that of a bicycle. To others, like me, this is devastating, since our pets are beloved members of our family and their lives and ours can be deeply impacted in a negative way when they suddenly disappear.

I know this to be true because our world has been turned inside out ever since our adored five-year-old cockapoo, Charlie, went missing on March 23 from Glenrosa, West Kelowna, where we live. Since then I’ve been on a mission to find him, and that mission has extended to the other missing dogs of the Okanagan as well.

After looking through the pictures of all the pups I was able to find still being advertised as missing, a reporter friend asked: “Are these numbers out of the ordinary?”

Good question. Having never known anyone to lose their pet for more than a day or two, and having no concept as to what would be the norm for the number of missing dogs in an area of our size, I had to ask that as well. What I’ve come to discover is that it’s not standard at all.

“Typically when a canine goes missing it’s found,” a Kelowna dog control officer explained. “If no body or evidence of an attack is ever discovered, and the majority of the disappearing pets are sell-able purebred types or fighter breeds, it’s not hard to figure out they’re probably being stolen.

Gina Knutsen, who manages the popular Facebook page Okanagan Lost and Found Pets, agrees. “Normally I’m posting pictures of lost cats,” she said. “But there’s been a significant spike in missing dogs recently. Hopefully once the public realizes there’s a problem, someone will remember seeing something and report it so we can figure out what’s going on and stop it.”

Many people, including the mayor of West Kelowna just a few days ago, have wondered why anyone would want to steal a dog. Once again, this was a question I initially had to ask as well. I’ve learned a lot about the black market for stolen dogs in the last six weeks and its ugliness is shocking.

Not only are these poached pets often sold to unsuspecting people who’ve been told a bogus story about the pooch being abandoned, abused or something of that nature, they’re also stolen for breeding, ransom and more grotesque motives such as dog fighting, lab research, revenge and the unthinkable.

There are other reasons as well, such as unconscionable neighbours or pranksters who dump animals far from home leaving them to fend for themselves. Unfortunately the criminals responsible for any of these abhorrent acts are rarely caught, and if they are, the penalty is never harsh enough.

Of course, theft isn’t the only thing we have to worry about when it comes to the safety of our pets. We also have to be mindful of traffic and wildlife, and since it’s that time of year when hungry coyotes and cougars are looking for their next meal, it’s a good idea to take extra precautions.

If possible, provide your dogs with a fenced backyard that locks, and don’t leave them unattended if wildlife is a concern; don’t leave them alone in front of a store or in an unlocked house; try not to leave them in your car; and get your pets registered, fixed, tattooed and microchipped.

To review the list of the missing dogs I compiled, CLICK HERE or just scroll down for the repeated listing below.

If you see any of these pups solo or with a person, please take their picture if you’re safely able to, and contact the owners ASAP. If they’re on their own, please don’t chase, but do try to help them as you would if you saw a toddler without a parent.

If you have any tips on stolen animals of the Okanagan please call the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880 or contact Lori@LoriWelbourne.com

Pomeranian Chihuahua Cross, taken for an apparent joy ride from the yard of a Glenrosa home and dropped off in CNB area, West Kelowna, April 12.

FOUND – collar had been removed.

LUMEN

Small sable brown Sheltie. Kelly: 250-868-6603. There have been numerous possible sightings of Lumen. Reward. Casa Loma area, March 14.

SHYLO

Taken from home, presumably by the woman who came up to their deck three days earlier with a bowl of water and took off when she realized people were home. Chakara Cormier: 250-215-8594, Country Pines Gate, Glenrosa, West Kelowna, August 5.

FOUND – owner tracked him down and found him at drug dealers house in Rutland.

LUCY

15, partially blind. 250-859-1104. Glenmore, Kelowna, April 6.

PIPER

Purebred Australian Shepherd, 5 months, stolen from fenced backyard at 10am. Piper’s collar was left on the driveway. Reward offered. Robyn Wheldon. Springfield/Hollywood, Kelowna, April 29.

FOUND – owner was immediately active on social media and called the police. People started looking right away. The dog was pushed out of a car and left on the side of the road and found by a woman who reported it on Facebook.

ROSE

Pit bull poodle cross puppy, stolen from Linda Kerkkonen’s home on Stremel Road, Rutland. On her Facebook post she names Rheal Beaudry and Big Joe as the dognappers. Big Joe was driving a small grey car; his wife/girlfriend is a hairdresser and they have kids. They may live in Penticton. Linda: 250-491-9454. Kelowna, April 4.

RUDI

Portuguese Waterdog, 4 years old, stolen out of yard. Okaview, Kelowna, Feb 22. FOUND – by RCMP same day.

MISSING DOGS – VERNON

Owner got a call that her dog was seen at Kin Beach Park and the woman who had her said she was taking her home since she couldn’t find the owner and left her name (Carol) and phone 250-545-3399 which turned out to be a fax. Couldn’t get through either way. Collar but no tags. Tammy-Lynn 250-503-6975 Kin Beach area, Vernon, April 27.

MISSING DOGS – SUMMERLAND/PENTICTON

BELLA and DIESEL

8 month old and one year old Cane Corsos stolen from fenced property. Candace: 250-492-5012. Shingle Creek, Penticton, May 6

After a flurry of activity on social media they were RETURNED by an anonymous woman 8am on May 7 to their home. The woman said she knew the people who stole them but didn’t say who. She called from a blocked number after the dogs were already at the door. The dogs weren’t physically harmed but acted very frightened and skittish.

GRACE

German Shepherd puppy, 4 months, disappeared from fully fenced back yard. Believes she was stolen. Reported to police. Green collar. Possible sighting: Outside Tim Hortons holding up traffic and on Giants Head Road on May 1. Jodie: 250-486-0844. Kelly Ave, Summerland, April 30.

Bernese Mountain Dog went missing from home. Owner believes his friendly dog got in the car with someone as there were only tire tracks left behind. Garet: 250-550-7263. Harris Creek/Echo Lake area, Lumby, December 8.

One year, black & tan Dachshund Cross, stolen out of her kennel from home between 5-9pm. 250-280-1859 or 250-936-9420. Merritt, March 16.

“Dealing Dogs” is an Emmy-nominated documentary. It’s extremely hard to watch, but it shines some light on the disgusting world of dognapping. Of course not all dogs that are stolen are for the black market. Sometimes people just want a pet and keep the one they’ve found assuming it’s been abandoned or abused. Assumptions such as these should not be made and Dog Control or the SPCA should always be notified so proper procedures can be followed in the best interest of the dog as well as their family.

All of these beloved pets should be home with their families that love them.

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